LEST WE FORGET

Sergeant Kenneth Joseph GEHRMANN

Service No: 426871
Born: Warwick QLD, 30 January 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 15 august 1942
Unit: No. 12 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 12 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft Z1717), Northamptonshire, 20 October 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward Henry and Ruby Elizabeth Gehrmann, of Manly, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Warwick QLD
Remembered: Panel 122, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

Brother of Flying Officer Ronald Edward Gehrmann (43071)

On 20 October 1943 Wellington Z1717 took off from RAF Chipping Warden for a night training flight. The aircraft overshot the airfield, climbed to around 1,000 feet, rolled over, and crashed at 2254 hours near Culworth, 16 miles north west of Northampton. In hitting the ground the bomber was engulfed in flames. All the crew members were killed.

The crew members of Z1717 were:

Sergeant Donald Alfred Ross Colegate (1389344) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Zeger Willem Casper Dekkers (1649902) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Kenneth Joseph Gehrmann (426871) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Walter David Newel (J/25070) (RCAF) (Air Bomber)

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/15/132

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